GameStop to carry iOS devices soon, begins trading-in used iPhones, iPads and iPods for in-store credits

9to5 Staff | Sep 5 2011 - 6:48 am PT

We’ve received a word from several sources that GameStop will soon begin offering the entire lineup of Apple’s popular iOS mobile devices such as iPhones, iPods and iPads at their stores. The announcement was made to dealers at an annual trade show in Las Vegas this past week. Also, as of this week, GameStop began accepting iOS device trade-ins for in-store credits. From the sound of it, our take is GameStop is first doing trade-ins/used products before phasing in new ones, perhaps as Apple launches iPhone 5 in October (Deutsche Telekom in Germany is now quietly accepting pre-orders).

The 20.34 million iPhones Apple sold during the June quarter partly came thanks to expanded distribution as the company widened the iPhone footprint by securing distribution agreements with additional carriers worldwide. iPhone 5 is rumored to launch on AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile USA and Sprint, which would be the first time the handset was available on wireless networks other than AT&T and Verizon. China Mobile, the world’s largest and most-valued carrier, has been holding secret meetings with both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, presumably to sign that landmark iPhone agreement. Apple’s evidently been widening its distribution network ahead of iPhone 5 launch. That, coupled with pent-up demand, should help them report another blow-out holiday quarter.